Supreme Court rejects Jefferson’s argument

By Martin Kady II, Politico

May 19, 2009

The Supreme Court has rejected former Rep. William Jefferson’s efforts to have his corruption case tossed, clearing the way for his trial to begin in June.

The Louisiana Democrat has consistently argued that a raid of his office by FBI agents violated the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause, but with the Supreme Court refusing to hear his case, Jefferson’s criminal trial will begin in Alexandria, Va., on June 2. The speech or debate argument was really Jefferson’s best hope for derailing the bribery case before trial, as he argued that materials and witnesses presented to the grand jury included privileged information protected under the Constitution.

Jefferson faces 16 federal criminal charges, but the most notable detail from his criminal case is, of course, the allegation that he hid $90,000 in bribery money in his freezer.

Jefferson lost his House seat last year to Republican Anh “Joseph” Cao.